8 Tips for Selling a Home Fast

The fall season is coming to a close, and winter approaching. For real estate, that means the peak season for selling is over. Due to the changing weather and school schedules, buyers typically aren’t as interested in purchasing a home at this point.

But although home buying slows down during the winter, that doesn’t mean you can’t unload your residence. Selling a home quickly at a great price is every seller’s dream. If you want to make that a reality, there are a few strategies worth trying.

1. Stage It

A great professional home stager will look at your home from the buyer’s perspective and add furniture and accents that show off its strengths. He or she will also divert attention from some of its flaws to improve the buyer’s first impressions.

If you can’t afford a professional stager, look into how to do the staging yourself. You might have a trusted friend walk through the home and tell you honestly what might dissuade buyers versus what could help them take the plunge.

2. Make It Look Bigger

The latest home trends demand spacious, flowing main floors. If your house is cramped and seems small, buyers may show less interest.

Most home sellers assume it’s best to set their asking price on a home high to leave room for negotiation. But that can often be their downfall.

A good Realtor will tell you the first 30 days on the market represent the best chance for your home to sell. If the price is too high, you’ll have fewer showings, and thereby increase the time it takes to sell.

4. Price It Under

If you’re really desperate to sell your house, and you’re not worried about dropping the price a few grand, underpricing can be a great last-ditch effort. Just make it clear in advertising that there’s nothing wrong with the home. You’re just a motivated seller hoping to pass on a great residence to someone else.

5. Get a Good Agent

You should never hire a real estate agent just because he or she is a friend or you have some personal interests in common. It’s better to hire someone with a strong track record of selling homes and a thorough understanding of the housing market in your neighborhood

It’s hard to gauge this kind of success in people when you first meet them, so do plenty of research first. Ask around the neighborhood for recommendations of a knowledgeable agent. Read online client reviews and check out candidates’ Facebook pages to assess their listing promotion tactics.

6. Have It Professionally Cleaned

If you’ve been living in the house for a while, you may not notice some of the clutter and grime that’s built up over the years. Your home will also take on a certain smell you’ll get used to, but might be unappealing to others.

Even if you’re a meticulous housekeeper, have your home professionally cleaned to increase interest, especially if you smoke or have pets.

7. Improve Curb Appeal

Science shows that people form their first impression within seven seconds of an encounter. What they see when they park in the driveway and step over the threshold will establish an expectation about the whole house.

If the curb appeal leaves something to be desired, you’ll have a harder time generating enough “wow” factor to sell the home quickly. Small updates should do the trick.

You might plant a few flowers or stage some tasteful garden ornaments in the winter. You could paint the front door, replace the mailbox, or give your home a thorough pressure wash.

If the place looks fabulous from the outside, you’ll get a lot more showings.

8. Make Some Small Updates

Since you’re trying to sell the home quickly, a lengthy renovation is probably a bad idea. There are small, but substantial updates you can make to attract more positive attention, however.

Fresh paint on interiors or the exterior is one of the best things you can do. A few new fixtures or door handles on your kitchen cabinets can also give the house a fresh look.

Spending a few hundred dollars to make some minor improvements to the house can cut by half the time it takes to sell your home.